(1) There are hereby established programs of professional education for county purchase clerks, receiving clerks and inventory control clerks. The programs shall be offered at least every four (4) years at the beginning of terms of office for county elected officials and at other times when the State Auditor has been notified by a board of supervisors that a vacancy in the position of purchase clerk, receiving clerk or inventory control clerk has been filled with an uncertified appointee. The curriculum for each program shall be designed by the State Auditor. Program administration, coordination, delivery and attendance verification shall be conducted by the Community Development Department of the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service. The professional education programs offered at the beginning of terms of office shall be scheduled in each planning and development district; provided, however, the Community Development Department may schedule a program in one geographical area encompassing several planning and development districts rather than scheduling separate programs in each planning and development district within that geographical area. Participants who successfully complete a program shall be certified by the State Auditor and shall display the certificate awarded in a prominent public place within their offices.

Any participant who travels outside the county of his employment to attend a professional education program shall receive as reimbursement of the expense of such travel the same mileage and actual and necessary expenses for food, lodging and travel as allowed state officers and employees pursuant to Section 25-3-41, Mississippi Code of 1972; however mileage shall not be allowed when travel is by motor vehicle owned by the county.

All or any part of the expense of a professional education program may be defrayed by the imposition of fees in a reasonable amount established by the State Auditor. Any fees imposed to defray expenses of a professional education program shall be paid by the county for participants.

(2) There is hereby established a program of professional education for members of county boards of supervisors. The program shall be offered at the beginning of each term of office for members of the boards of supervisors and may be offered more frequently at the discretion of the Committee on Supervisor Education. The curriculum of the program shall be designed by the Committee on Supervisor Education, which shall be composed of the following members:

(a) Two (2) members from the State Department of Audit designated by the State Auditor.

(b) Two (2) members from the Mississippi Association of Supervisors designated by the executive director of the association.

(c) One (1) member from the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service designated by the director of the service.

(d) One (1) member from the Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University designated by the director of the institute.

(e) One (1) member from the Judicial College of the University of Mississippi designated by the director of the judicial college.

(f) One (1) member from the Public Policy and Administration Program at Jackson State University designated by the Chairman of the Department of Political Science.

Program administration, coordination, delivery and attendance verification shall be conducted by the Community Development Department of the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service in cooperation with the Mississippi Association of Supervisors. All or any part of the expense of the supervisor education program may be defrayed by the imposition of fees established by the Committee on Supervisor Education.

The primary resources for the supervisor education program shall be the State Department of Audit, the State Attorney General, the Judicial College of the University of Mississippi, the Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University, the Public Policy and Administration Program at Jackson State University, the Mississippi Research and Development Center or its successor, and any other federal, state, local or university entities having expertise in specific topical areas.

Any fees imposed to defray expenses of the supervisor education program shall be paid by the county for members of the board of supervisors of such county enrolled in the program; and, additionally, when any supervisor travels outside of his county to attend a school, seminar or workshop approved by the Committee on Supervisor Education, he shall receive as reimbursement of expenses of such travel the same mileage and actual and necessary expenses for food, lodging and travel by public carrier or private motor vehicles as is allowed state officers and employees pursuant to the provisions of Section 25-3-41; however, mileage shall not be authorized when such travel is done by a motor vehicle owned by the county.